Damien took her hand as they walked down the hallway and downstairs to the outside.“One car or two?”
“Two probably makes more sense.”
“Where are we headed?”
“There’s a good place not far from here.It’s a diner, but it’s good.If you’re open to it.”
“I’m open to anything.I’ll follow you.”
She nodded.
He opened her door and stole a quick kiss.He didn’t miss the smile that lit her entire face.
Damien followed her to Bob’s Diner in the middle of the city.He’d never been there, but he wasn’t opposed to new places.He met her behind their vehicles and took her hand as they walked to the door.He liked the feel of her palm against his, and she didn’t seem to mind that he was holding her hand.
He opened the door for her to walk in first.He was immediately hit by the scent of baked goods and fried breakfast foods.It was comforting in a way he never would have guessed.
“Sit wherever you’d like,” the server behind the counter told them.
Harmony started toward a booth toward the back of the diner, but she stopped when someone called Damien’s name.
Damien saw Pryce Murphy and his wife, Edie, in the next booth.
Harmony smiled at him and made a move to release his hand, but Damien held tight to hers.
“Morning.How are you guys doing?”
“Good,” they said at the same time.“We’ve never seen you here.”
“I’ve never been.This is Harmony?—”
“Gibbs?”Pryce asked.
Harmony tensed beside Damien.
“Not everyone likes to be recognized before they can be introduced,” Edie chastised him.
“I apologize,” Pryce said.
“It’s fine.”It definitely wasn’t.
“Pryce works with Marcus.He went to Demeter last night to talk to the manager,” Damien explained to her.
The knowledge that he was a cop eased her posture just slightly.
“Marcus speaks very highly of you,” Pryce said.
Harmony nodded.“He’s been very kind to me.”
Edie grinned.“That’s how he is.He and his wife took me in when I had nowhere else to go.I’m Edie.”
“Edie Warren,” Harmony breathed.
Edie chuckled.
“I am so sorry.You were just defending me, and I go and do that.”
“It’s okay,” Edie assured Harmony.“I get it a lot.And yes.”
